SETTLEMENT ON THE LAND

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25177, 7 May 1947, Page 5

SETTLEMENT ON THE LAND

MINISTER’S ATTITUDE TO RETURNED MEN NO-CONFIDENCE resolution AT DANNEVIRKE <P^-) DANNEVIRKE, May 5. , The attitude of the Minister of Rehabilitation (Mr C. F. Skinner) to the settlement on the land of returned soldiers was criticised at the annual meeting of the Dannevirke and District Returned Services’ Association. The discussion arose over a case in the district in which private land available for settlement had gone to a civilian in preference to a returned soldier. It was stated that the property, in spite of all the endeavours of the serviceman to purchase it, had been placed under option to the civilian, Who already possessed property in the district; that the Minister had agreed to operate Section 51 of the Servicejnen s Land Settlement Act, and later had decided not to do so. A letter from the Minister came to hand on the evening of the annual meeting of the association. It stated that, m deference to the expressed wish of the late owner of the property that a civilian interested should ve A, th ® opportunity of acquiring it. tne Minister had decided not to take r e £ under Section 51 of the act for the settlement of a returned serviceman. The following . motion was passed unanimously:— “(1) That the association registers a strong protest to the Minister at his action in refusing to operate section 51 of the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Act. “(2) That the full facts be given the widest publicity. “(3) That this meeting views with alarm the Minister’s failure to honour his promise to do everything within his power to settle returned servicemen farmers on the land. “(4) That this meeting has no confidence in the ability of the Minister to administer his portfolios of Lands and Rehabilitation for the benefit of former servicemen, and that the Minister be informed accordingly.”